Hippocampe

Hippocampe is situated in a unique position within the Cerbicale Islands marine reserve. As the only dive centre located inside the marine park, it offers immediate access to some of the most protected and biodiverse waters in Corsica.

Operating from the La Chiappa site in Porto-Vecchio, the centre has been a fixture of the local diving community for over four decades. The establishment provides a base for exploring the reefs and underwater landscapes that define this protected Mediterranean zone.

The centre has been under German direction since its founding by Karin Schuller in 1981. Since 2016, it has been managed by Nadine and Wolf Pfahler, who have maintained the informal and welcoming atmosphere the centre is known for.

The team is multilingual, with instruction and communication available in German, English, and French. This makes the centre a practical choice for international divers looking to train or explore the reserve.

Training is available for all experience levels, ranging from initial discovery dives to the advanced Master Diver certification. Courses can be arranged with three days' notice.

The training programme covers the full spectrum of diver progression. Beginners can start with a discovery dive (baptême de plongée) to experience the underwater environment.

For those pursuing formal certifications, the centre offers paths leading up to the Master Diver level. All training is conducted with a focus on the specific conditions of the marine reserve.

The centre provides a full range of rental kit for those not travelling with their own equipment. This includes masks, snorkels, fins, and wetsuits. For those needing specific cylinder configurations, they stock 10-litre, 12-litre, and 15-litre steel cylinders.

To accommodate younger divers, the centre also stocks 5-litre and 8-litre cylinders along with XXS BCDs/stab jackets.

The primary diving season runs from April to November. The centre operates 365 days a year, though the main period of activity is during these months.